All Blacks
Match thread
Fiji
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
A very good performance but I don't think anybody pushed their way into the 23 bar Sititi who put in a strong claim for the impact loose forward spot. I'd like to see him come on with 20 to go to wreck some havoc.
Proctor was very good but we'd be kidding ourselves if we thought Rieko wouldn't have absolutely carved up with the opportunities in space against a more passive defense that he had. ALB is perfect on the bench to cover 12/13 and in his current form will have an impact from there. Jordie is consistently in the top 3 All Blacks against the top sides, his spot is not under threat.
I'd like to see them start Ratima with TJP off the bench.
Jacobson is a sound injury replacement for Finau but we really do need Finau to find his feet as he has all the right attributes for a test 6.
Dalton is miles ahead of anyone in the 7 jumper. Hopefully Cane comes back from injury OK as we need a good backup in that position.
EB was disappointing given the hype from Crusaderland. He struggled with the pace of the game in the heat. May be a fitness thing given he's just back from his latest injury, but he shouldn't be close to the 23 right now.
Clarke would have played v England if not for injury and is the incumbent 11 right now. He's a real point of difference for us in the back three.
Given he’s not exactly universally adored by many other than @tim this is a pretty sad state of affairs
The haters and doubters told us Billy Proctor wasn't ready for Test rugby. Now they are saying it was only Fiji. 
@WillieTheWaiter said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Shorts so tight he struggled to put the ball down
But easy to put the balls up
@Frank said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@darylmitchell said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
I can't believe they didn't use Clarke during the England series - I mean how many times would have it been better to have Caleb punching and getting over the gain line rather than Telea dodging 5 tacklers and getting caught behind the advantage line?
He was injured.
Um wasn't Clarke available for the 2nd test?
@Duluth said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@No-Quarter said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
EB was disappointing given the hype from Crusaderland. He struggled with the pace of the game in the heat. May be a fitness thing given he's just back from his latest injury, but he shouldn't be close to the 23 right now.
Cane is available for the Championship squad. EB is the player that should drop out
It was always a big ask. Ardie has been playing a lower standard in Japan and looks below his best. EB hasn't been playing at all. Probably needs some reps in the NPC to get him up to speed for the EOYT, assuming that Razor wants to take him
I still can't work out what the best position for LJ is. He kind of looks like an 8 without the impact, does well at 6 and LOs against lower tier teams, and can play a patched up 7. But is he really a 6?
Also not convinced against top sides he would have the same lineout factor.
Niggles isn't really a 7, he doesn't seem to know what to do with the ball once he gets it.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
> I still can't work out what the best position for LJ is. He kind of looks like an 8 without the impact, does well at 6 and LOs against lower tier teams, and can play a patched up 7. But is he really a 6?
Also not convinced against top sides he would have the same lineout factor.
Niggles isn't really a 7, he doesn't seem to know what to do with the ball once he gets it.
So basically a perfect 6.5 that the ABs seem to insist on selecting year after year ?
@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
> I still can't work out what the best position for LJ is. He kind of looks like an 8 without the impact, does well at 6 and LOs against lower tier teams, and can play a patched up 7. But is he really a 6?Also not convinced against top sides he would have the same lineout factor.
Niggles isn't really a 7, he doesn't seem to know what to do with the ball once he gets it.So basically a perfect 6.5 that the ABs seem to insist on selecting year after year ?
Yes could be a good utility with quite a bit more finetuning.
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
> I still can't work out what the best position for LJ is. He kind of looks like an 8 without the impact, does well at 6 and LOs against lower tier teams, and can play a patched up 7. But is he really a 6?Also not convinced against top sides he would have the same lineout factor.
Niggles isn't really a 7, he doesn't seem to know what to do with the ball once he gets it.So basically a perfect 6.5 that the ABs seem to insist on selecting year after year ?
Yes could be a good utility with quite a bit more finetuning.
Didn’t someone say he was the biggest hitter in the AB squad or did I imagine that ?
@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Didn’t someone say he was the biggest hitter in the AB squad or did I imagine that ?
you mean concrete shoulders? I heard that, saw some solid tackles in Super, don't remember earth-shattering ones at international level.
@bayimports said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@canefan said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
How lucky is Finlay Christie? Nailed on the get the next start. Fuuuck
Not often a ginger gets kissed on the dick so often
Not since Henry VIII
Well done Planet Rugby, not taking the cool aid that NZ media are - note equal lowest scores for 1-7, forwards were lacking in go forward and Fiji got the turnovers until reserves on
7 Ethan Blackadder: It was good for the flank to get some Test minutes in his legs but it was not a blockbuster showing. Blackadder ticked the boxes in a decent outing but he would be upset having missed four tackles on the night. 6
6 Luke Jacobson: One of the players doing the grunt work so the others can run wild and write headlines. Jacobson did not do much going forward but made eight tackles on defence. 6
@MiketheSnow said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Not often a ginger gets kissed on the dick so often
Not since Henry VIII
Philistines. Errol Flynn played Red Beard. Elton John might have a thing or two to say here as well.
I really hope Ratima isn’t out for long, he really looks the goods
Hard to take too much from a game like this. Annoying to see all the handling errors, and some sloppy breakdown work too. But some good stuff amongst all that too.
Clarke clearly takes the 11 spot, Sevu holds 14 for now despite falling asleep to gift Fiji their first try
Keen to see Darry more at this level to see what he can grow into.
@voodoo said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
I really hope Ratima isn’t out for long, he really looks the goods
I think he'll be fine for the Arg test as it looked like concussion not an injury. The big question is whether TJP is fit, as then they have a selection decision to make.
The playing surface (Bermuda grass) definitely played a part in some of the handling errors when the players hit the ground, and it was mentioned was a really hard surface.
@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@MN5 said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
> I still can't work out what the best position for LJ is. He kind of looks like an 8 without the impact, does well at 6 and LOs against lower tier teams, and can play a patched up 7. But is he really a 6?Also not convinced against top sides he would have the same lineout factor.
Niggles isn't really a 7, he doesn't seem to know what to do with the ball once he gets it.So basically a perfect 6.5 that the ABs seem to insist on selecting year after year ?
Yes could be a good utility with quite a bit more finetuning.
Didn’t someone say he was the biggest hitter in the AB squad or did I imagine that ?
Used to be known for his concrete shoulders. Like a young Read in that regard.
Read the previous comments...shouldn't have. People are going to see what they are going to see. You can predict the people who are going to say something less than positive about Niggles and it is always "he does this but ...(slide in some abstract shite)". Watch Niggles be a pest at the breakdown, support the ball carrier, etc. Actually should have been penalized for playing on the wrong side of the ruck a few times but ...
LJ needs a mention as well. I think you get Cane's defense game plus a bit more. Here is a controversial comment. Maybe a Niggles, LJ, and Sotutu backrow with Savea as impact might be our best combo.
As did Clarke. I have been his biggest critic but his positional play, high ball ability, etc is really an obvious improvement compared to Telea.
And Proctor! A real center's game. Really impressed both on defense and attack.
I wonder how much you can read on this game though. Time will tell I suppose.
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Read the previous comments...shouldn't have. People are going to see what they are going to see. You can predict the people who are going to say something less than positive about Niggles and it is always "he does this but ...(slide in some abstract shite)". Watch Niggles be a pest at the breakdown, support the ball carrier, etc. Actually should have been penalized for playing on the wrong side of the ruck a few times but ...
LJ needs a mention as well. I think you get Cane's defense game plus a bit more. Here is a controversial comment. Maybe a Niggles, LJ, and Sotutu backrow with Savea as impact might be our best combo.
As did Clarke. I have been his biggest critic but his positional play, high ball ability, etc is really an obvious improvement compared to Telea.
And Proctor! A real center's game. Really impressed both on defense and attack.
I wonder how much you can read on this game though. Time will tell I suppose.
He needs to make the squad first
@nostrildamus said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
I'm really happy for ALB, thought he was a bit on the slide before.
Yeah, forgot to mention ALB. Great game. When fit, he is a diamond. His "rugby smarts" is probably superior to JB's at the moment.
Just watching the second half as I had to go out earlier. At 55 mins very nice play by Reece, Hotham and DMac to put Clarke over in the corner, only to be disallowed due to some Scooter Barrett inaccuracy 
58 mins de Groot goes over. We look so much better running hard and straight. A couple of minutes earlier we shuffle the ball out wide and Fiji smash us behind the advantage line flat footed
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
If DMac is injured we have a problem
I'd rather see them give Plummer a crack, than sub in BB or Perofeta
Hotham having a tidy debut, Caleb Clarke had a very good game. High work rate, made good decisions
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Razor knockers can surely see there is less headless chicken stuff over the last 3 games
Prolly gonna just wait to see how we go against something better than Borthwick England or not even the drua, but yeah for a second side it was a much tidier affair than the past few years.
@Bones said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
@BerniesCorner said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Razor knockers can surely see there is less headless chicken stuff over the last 3 games
Prolly gonna just wait to see how we go against something better than Borthwick England or not even the drua, but yeah for a second side it was a much tidier affair than the past few years.
:beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes: :beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes: :beaming_face_with_smiling_eyes:
Only SA will be equal to or better than Borthwick's England
If you don't thrash both Argentina and Australia then you have problems
@MiketheSnow The lineout remains the worry for me, then the lack of depth in the backrow, then the lack of depth at ten, then the run of tough away games we have in November.
But overall, I am pleased with the results so far and to see the squad moving forward.
RI to the wing please and a centre at centre. ALB had a great game. BP was decent too. Thought Ratima and then Hotham very good too. And CC looks so much better with less body weight.
3/3 so far. Ah, I’d forgotten what it was like for the ABs to string together victories.
@Old-Samurai-Jack said in All Blacks vs Fiji:
Maybe a Niggles, LJ, and Sotutu backrow with Savea as impact might be our best combo.
Not that controversial.
I think you could swap in/out about 8 names in any number of combinations and it would be a defendable opinion.
Edit: defendable, not dependable
@Billy-Tell Oh come on lol, we strung many victories together under the last management too haha.
Lets not act like we barely strung 2 victories in a row from 2020-2023.